Rugby Roundup – 22nd February

Loughrea produced a performance full of heart and courage as they faced a well-drilled Dunmore side in the quarter-final of the BOI U14 Girls Cup at the Monastery Fields on Sunday, February 22nd.

Taking on Division 1A opposition, the Loughrea girls showed no fear, matching Dunmore in every department — from fierce tackling to relentless work rate and unwavering determination. It was a contest played at a ferocious pace, with both sides refusing to yield an inch.

Loughrea struck first after 11 minutes when Cliona powered over the line to give her side a deserved 5–0 lead. Dunmore responded swiftly with a try of their own to level matters at 5–5, setting the tone for a gripping encounter.

Undeterred, Loughrea regrouped superbly. Stringing together impressive phases of play, they worked the ball wide with confidence and precision, allowing Chloe Walsh to finish brilliantly in the corner and restore the lead. The visitors went into the break 10–5 ahead, brimming with belief.

The second half was a tense, end-to-end battle. Defence was heroic on both sides, with try-saving tackles and sheer grit keeping the scoreboard tight. Dunmore eventually found a breakthrough, powering over for their second try and adding the crucial conversion to edge in front.

Loughrea emptied the tank in the closing stages, launching wave after wave of attack in a dramatic final ten minutes. Despite their immense effort, they were narrowly denied at the final whistle.

Full-time: Dunmore 12 – Loughrea 10

A tremendous display from the Loughrea girls, who can take immense pride from their performance. Attention now turns to the Plate competition — heads up, lessons learned, and ready to go again.